ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, April 9, 1996 TAG: 9604090095
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
Three Patrick Henry High School students accused of attacking another student on campus last week were ordered held without bond Monday after Roanoke prosecutors filed more serious charges against them.
The three boys, who initially had been charged with misdemeanor assault, were being held in Coyner Springs Juvenile Detention Center on felony charges of malicious wounding.
Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Gerald Teaster said he asked for the more serious charges after learning more about the injuries. The student suffered cuts to his face and mouth, kicks to his body and an apparent bite on his stomach.
Authorities have not released the victim's name, but his parents have identified him as Curtis Smallwood Jr., a senior and member of the school's baseball team. The three students charged - two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old - were not identified because of their ages.
Police have said that Smallwood was waiting near a classroom for a friend about 8:30 a.m. Friday when he was approached by several male students. After ignoring a teacher's orders to move on, the students knocked Smallwood to the floor and beat him, police said.
Charges are pending against a fourth student also believed to have been involved.
Although the boys were ordered held after an arraignment Monday in Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Teaster said he expects attorneys to ask that they be released before an April 30 hearing date.
The upgrading of charges from misdemeanors to felonies raises the possibility that the youths could be tried as adults. But Teaster said prosecutors haven't decided whether to try to transfer the cases to Circuit Court.
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